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continuum mechanics

A field of material particles vs. a field of markers

Submitted by Zhigang Suo on

In continuum mechanics, it is a common practice to view a body as a field of material particles, so that the continuum mechanics is phrased as an algorithm to determine the function x(X, t), where X is the name of a particle, and x is the place of the particle at time t.

Flip test: imagine continuum mechanics as a revolutionary idea

Submitted by Zhigang Suo on

Let's say the world has only e-books, then someone introduces this technology called 'paper.' It's cheap, portable, lasts essentially forever, and requires no batteries. You can't write over it once it's been written on, but you buy more very cheaply. Wouldn't that technology come to dominate the market?